Calibano (Mastro de Paja) 101 S C2 Smooth Bent Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

I have seen many references to Calibano pipes as a Mastro de Paja “second,” and while they were made by Mastro de Paja, to call them “seconds” is not entirely accurate. Instead, Calibano was a Mastro de Paja sub brand, and specifically one through which Mastro de Paja offered something more akin to a factory pipe. In other words, while just about every Mastro de Paja pipe is handmade in the Italian workshop tradition, with the typical result being that each has been unique, Calibano pipes were made with the use of fraising machines and, as such, were offered in a roster of set shapes and finishes. It’s a little like Savinelli’s establishment of the Autograph workshop, but in reverse; instead of starting out a factory make and branching out into freehand pipes, Calibano was a case of a freehand pipe workshop branching out into factory briars.

The “101” was Calibano’s take on a large, full-bent billiard, with a figure approaching that of a midcentury Oom Paul. This one is dressed in a very striking, brick-red contrast finish, which beautifully lights up the bird’s-eye briar around its bowl.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. There’s a couple of worn out fills, though nothing major.

Details:

Length: 6.1″ / 154.9mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.73″ / 43.94mm

Weight: 2.0oz / 58g